United Group Insurance

Significant Weather Advisory: Montgomery/Page Counties

Weather

June 30th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

MONTGOMERY IA-
633 AM CDT THU JUN 30 2016

…SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN MONTGOMERY AND NORTHEASTERN PAGE COUNTIES UNTIL 645 AM CDT…

AT 632 AM CDT…DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER VILLISCA…OR 12 MILES WEST OF CORNING…MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. DIME SIZE HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE…VILLISCA.

THIS INCLUDES HIGHWAY 34 IN IOWA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 48 AND 51.

Special Weather Statement: Adams & Taylor Counties

Weather

June 30th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

TAYLOR IA-ADAMS IA-
627 AM CDT THU JUN 30 2016

…INTENSIFYING STORM MAY PRODUCE DIME TO NICKEL SIZE HAIL…

AT 627 AM CDT…DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER VILLISCA…OR 13 MILES WEST OF CORNING…MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH. DIME SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE…
BEDFORD…LENOX…NEW MARKET…CLEARFIELD…GRAVITY…NODAWAY…
SHARPSBURG…CONWAY…LAKE OF THREE FIRES STATE PARK AND BEDFORD
MUNICIPAL AIRPORT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER…CONTACT YOUR NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN DES MOINES .

Committee in Montgomery County appoints Supervisor in District 2

News

June 30th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

A committee in Montgomery County tasked with filling a vacancy on the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors in District 2, has selected Mike Olsen to succeed Joshua Wiig. Wiig resigned from his Board seat on May 31st. The committee took action on his replacement Wednesday evening.

Mike Olson will serve as District 2 Supervisor until the results of the November 8, 2016, General Election are certified. However, Iowa Code states citizens of Montgomery County District 2, may request a special election to fill the vacancy by filing a petition with the Montgomery County Auditor containing 77 signatures of eligible electors within 14 days after the appointment is made.

2 Nebraska residents arrested following disturbance in Hamburg

News

June 30th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports two Nebraska residents were arrested Wednesday, following an investigation into a disturbance in Hamburg. Sheriff Kevin Aistrope says deputies were called to the disturbance that occurred between the 1500 and 160 block of Washington Street, after which 18-year old Kassie Neeman, of Nebraska City, NE., was arrested for Trespassing. Neeman was being held in the Fremont County Jail on $300 bond.

Brandon Leckenby

Brandon Leckenby

Kassie Neeman

Kassie Neeman

While at the scene of the disturbance, another investigation began that resulted in the arrest of 26-year old Brandon Leckenby, of Nebraska City. He faces charges that include Possession of numerous pieces of drug paraphernalia (Meth & marijuana), carrying weapons, and on a valid arrest warrant out of Boone County. The Fremont County K9 Unit and Iowa State Patrol assisted at the scene. Leckenby was being held in the Fremont County Jail on $2,300 bond while awaiting transfer to Boone County.

Jacob Hills

Jacob Hills

And, early this (Thursday) morning, 23-year old Jacob Hills, of Hamburg, was arrested in the parking lot of the Casey’s General Store in Hamburg, after Hills was found laying next to a car in front of the store. Hills was arrested for Public Intoxication and was being held in the Fremont County Jail on $300 bond.

Flash flood warning issued for Iowa’s Woodbury County

News, Weather

June 30th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

(Updated) — Heavy rain falling over parts of northwest and western Iowa overnight into early this (Thursday) morning, prompted the National Weather Service to issue a flash flood warning for Woodbury County. That warning has since expired. The service said early today (Thursday), that up to 3 inches of rain already had fallen and that thunderstorms in the area were expected to drop heavy rain.

Severe thunderstorms moved through much of western Iowa Wednesday evening, spawning at least one confirmed tornado. The service says the twister touched down near Persia, in Harrison County. Another tornado was observed not far from the Tri-Center High School, in Neola. No structural damage or injuries have been reported, however, hail ranging in size from nickels to quarters, and strong, straight-line winds flattened some corn and soybean field north of Neola, where they received more than an inch of rain.

And, hail up to the size of golf balls was reported three miles southwest of Underwood.

Special Weather Statement: Sac-Crawford & Carroll Counties

Weather

June 30th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

454 AM CDT THU JUN 30 2016

…GUSTY WINDS AND SMALL HAIL POSSIBLE THROUGH 6 AM CDT…

A LINE OF STORMS STRETCHING FROM NEAR IDA GROVE SOUTHEASTWARD TO CARROLL AND COON RAPIDS…WILL CONTINUE TO IMPACT THE AREA THROUGH 6 AM CDT. GUSTY WINDS TO 50 MPH…SMALL HAIL TO THE SIZE OF DIMES…AND BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL IS POSSIBLE WITH THE STORMS. SOME LOCALIZED PONDING OF WATER IS POSSIBLE FROM THE BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL.

Report: one in three Iowans struggles to cover basic living expenses

News

June 30th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

A report released Wednesday shows nearly one-third of Iowans struggle to afford basic living expenses. Deann Cook is executive director of United Ways of Iowa, which issued the statewide study. “This report indicates that over 381,000 households in Iowa, or 31-percent of the state’s total, are unable basic cost-of-living in their county,” Cook said. Around 12-percent of Iowans are below the federal poverty line, but Cook says that federal level is “outdated” and thousands of Iowans above the line are living paycheck to paycheck.

“And, most often, they have nothing left to navigate any unexpected expenses they may have such as a car repair, an illness, or a job loss,” Cook said. Heather Hennings is the president and CEO of the United Way of Siouxland and the incoming United Ways of Iowa Board Chair. She says wages in Iowa are failing to keep up with the rising cost of living. “Sixty-eight-percent of all jobs in Iowa pay less than $20 an hour and most of those actually pay between $10 and $15 an hour,” Hennings said.

The report could fuel more debate over efforts to raise the minimum wage in the state. “There are a lot of people who are working hard, playing by the rules…and we live in a country where you think, if you do work hard, you should be able to support your family. In some cases, that’s not happening,” Hennings said. The United Ways of Iowa represents 25 local United Ways that serve more than half of Iowa’s 99 counties.

(Radio Iowa)

Appeals Court approves class action status lawsuit against city of Council Bluffs

News

June 30th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Court of Appeals says a lawsuit in Council Bluffs over a property registration fee should be given class action status. Carla Limmer filed suit against the city of Council Bluffs in January of 2015, saying the property registration fee of 15 dollars for each rental unit exceeded the reasonable cost to operate the program. Limmer asked that the suit be certified as a class action so it would include all 26-hundred property owners.

The city opposed the class action status, saying the result of Limmer’s suit would benefit all rental owners whether or not it was a class action. The district court ruled for the city. The Iowa Court of Appeals overturned that ruling, saying
Limmer’s legal fees for pursuing the issue could be more than her individual damages.

It says in cases where the cost of litigation is large in comparison to the damages that could be recovered by each individual, certifying a class action makes it more likely the action will be fully litigated.

(Radio Iowa)

99-county Bible-reading marathon starts this morning

News

June 30th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

An 80-hour Bible-reading marathon begins at 8 a.m. today (Thursday) outside every county courthouse in the state. Karen Brownlee has been organizing the volunteer readers who will be on the Des Moines County Courthouse lawn in Burlington. “We have two-hour teams that come in read for a two-hour period and then another team will take over at that point,” Brownlee says. “The plan is to continue 24 hours a day, so in the evening we will switch to an indoor setting, the House of Prayer, which is just to the left of city hall.”

This scene will be replicated in each of Iowa’s 99 counties. Organizers estimate it takes 79 hours to read the Bible aloud, at a “pastoral” pace, from the first chapter of Genesis to the end of Revelations. Brownlee says they hope to complete their task in each county by 6 p.m. on Sunday, July 3rd. “We wanted to just share the hope that is given in the Bible for our land right before America’s birthday,” Brownlee says.

Governor Branstad signed a proclamation in April, encouraging Iowans to take part in the event. The American Civil Liberties Union and the Freedom from Religion Foundation have raised constitutional concerns, arguing the government should be “neutral” toward religion. The “First Liberty Institute” has said it will defend Branstad if he is sued over the matter.

A lawsuit challenging President Obama’s proclamation declaring a “National Day of Prayer” each year was tossed out by a federal appeals court in 2011.

(Radio Iowa)

Area Softball scores from Wed., 6/29/16

Sports

June 30th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Denison-Schleswig 4, Atlantic 3
Boone 10, Carroll 0
Coon Rapids-Bayard 8, Woodbine 3
Exira-EHK 11, Charter Oak-Ute 7
Glidden-Ralston 11, Ar-We-Va 3

Lenox 3, Clarinda 0
Mount Ayr 12, Orient-Macksburg 0
Mount Ayr 20, West Central Valley, Stuart 9
Shenandoah 12, Southwest Valley 2 (5 innings)
Sidney 13, East Mills 1 (4 innings)
Wayne 10, Essex 7
West Harrison 2, Adair-Casey 1

West Monona 12, OA-BCIG 4
West Monona 3, Lawton-Bronson 2
Westwood, Sloan 7, Maple Valley-Anthon Oto 5 (9)
Winterset 7, Ballard 1